View full sizeMonitor Township residents gather to examine a blueprint of the Midland Road reconstruction project at a public hearing Tuesday, April 24, at Monitor Township Hall.Alex Mitchell | MLive.com

MONITOR TOWNSHIP, MI – About 30 people gathered in Monitor Township Hall Tuesday, April 24, to learn about a big road construction project set for Midland Road this summer.

Jim Lillo, engineer-manager of the Bay County Road Commission, outlined details concerning the reconstruction, which is slated to run from May 13 to August 30.

The $1.6 million project will reconstruct a one-mile stretch of the road between Three Mile and Four Mile, in addition to adding a turn lane to free up traffic. A new storm sewer also will be installed.

According to Lillo, residents living within the construction area will have access to their homes at all times. People who do not live in the area will be directed to a detour following Three Mile to Wilder to Four Mile during periods of closure.

Lillo reminded attendees they could be ticketed for driving on a closed road if they do not live along it.

All driveways and yards affected by the construction will be replaced up to the 33-foot right-of-way line, which originates at the yellow center line in the middle of the road. Lillo said uneven concrete driveways can be a problem for county vehicles if they are too close to the road.

A few local residents attending the meeting voiced concerns about various parts of the project.

Randy Bellor, who lives past the Rueger Farms subdivision, questioned why the turn lane won’t be extended to include Four Mile Road.

“When we are coming from the west to the east to turn in to our driveway, we have really had to push on the brakes a few times,” Bellor said. “Extending the turn lane could really be beneficial.”

Lillo responded by saying it would be something to consider for the future, but funding won’t allow it right now.

“We’re fortunate to get this money,” Lillo said. “To look at the next mile, quite honestly, we don’t have the money. If we come out of the economic slump and people start buying farmland like they were, it may change.”

Others had concerns about traffic backups caused by the detour.

Charles Binder, who lives on Briar Drive, said during 2011 construction on Midland Road, the intersection at Three Mile and North East Union along the detour was dangerous.

“The intersection was a mess because east-west traffic had to stop, but people traveling on Union didn’t,” Binder said. “It was a racetrack.”

Binder requested either a traffic signal be installed during construction, or the intersection temporarily becomes a four-way-stop. He said this was done near the end of the previous project and it greatly helped traffic in the area.

But members of the road commission disagreed with Binder, saying that they didn’t recall a signal of any kind being installed during that project. Lillo said if a temporary signal had been installed, it would have had to of been done so by the Michigan Department of Transportation, who didn’t have involvement in the project.

“They didn’t remember it being a four way stop, but we drove that road every day,” said Binder’s wife, Pamella. “Sorry they didn’t remember it, because they missed it.”

Lillo said he would consider the possibility of adding a temporary traffic signal, but that he couldn’t make any guarantees.

The contract for the project has been awarded to the Sodus Township-based Kalin Construction Co.

The overall cost is being shared by the Bay City Area Transportation Study and the road commission, which has agreed to an 80-20 split in terms of the percentage both each will pay.

Lillo encourages those with questions or concerns to call the Bay County Road Commission at 989-892-4681.

“If something doesn’t seem right, like you hear they are going to start paving your front porch, call us,” Lillo said. “That’s how rumors start and get out of control.”